Is Lent the Christian Version of Ramadan?

This was the topic of discussion that brought out a number of people to participate in Resto van Harte’s dinner in Schiemond last evening. Resto is a unique organisation whose aim is to create community in rather disparate neighbourhoods by hosting weekly dinners and conversations. The gatherings take place in a local community centre amongst Rotterdam’s crowded government apartments. Last night’s presentation was just as interesting and multifaceted as the diverse group of people who came.

The speakers included a Muslim Imam, Jewish Rabbi, Christian Pastor and a special address from Rotterdam’s first Moroccan mayor, Ahmed Aboutaleb. The Rabbi shared about the significance of Yom Kippur being a time of fasting for atonement, while the Imam shared how Ramadan’s fast helps a follower to attain virtues like humility, while the Pastor spoke about Lent being a time of reflection and prayer to prepare for Holy Week and the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection. It was hard to understand everything that was said (because it was spoken in Dutch and I am still struggling to learn) but I found it interesting that the Imam kept mentioning samenwerk, or team work as a theme of Ramadan.

The people I sat with were also full of colour and conviction. Across from me was a man and woman who became friends through a recovery home. Marion shared that she was from Surinam and had lived in Rotterdam for 36 years. She has four children she rarely sees because of her struggles with addiction. Otto is a young man who recently moved from the home to navigate his life from the perspective of sobriety. There were some older women at the other end of the table but the language barrier kept us from sharing. The three ladies were quite happily engaged in their own conversation.Seated behind me was a table of women, mostly related, from Morocco with their children. They were very friendly and open to sharing about their culture and faith. Each stated that they rely on each other for support since they live about 100 km from their families.

I asked everyone I spoke with what they felt was needed the most attention for change in their community, they all echoed the same frustration - crime and drugs brought to their neighbourhood by young men from bordering areas. They believe these young men leave their own neighbourhood because they fear their families’ punishment for their abhorrent behaviour. Most of these youths are out of work and spend their days on the street causing havoc and being especially tyrannical towards women. Otto said, “I would find it hard to be a woman living here, you do not have the freedom to live your life on your own without being bothered.” It seems to be pretty endemic to the poor urban centres throughout North Holland. Should Reckoning be invited to partner with organisations like Resto and GreenGraffiti I am sure we will have the opportunity to touch on this issue.

The evening was well worth the lengthy train ride. It was great to meet and share life with others and organisations that are trying to impact and empower communities. Resto’s weekly dinner program allows people an opportunity to come together in a safe environment. Jim Bowes was sitting at table next to an elderly man who recently lost his wife. When he spoke about being alone, Jim shared that the man seemed to fold into himself at the mention of solitary life. Resto is providing a platform for otherwise isolated or marginalised people to integrate with others. It will take time and effort for some to engage those who are “different” but it is good that Resto van Harte creates a place for all people share a meal and conversation.

Picture from Resto van Harte’s Picasa Gallery

Reckoning Kick-Off in Cali

In terms of numbers, we were a hit! About 100 people came to enjoy Dutch cheese, taste fine wine, and converse about Reckoning. I have to say that I was surprised by the number of people that showed up, but I greatly appreciated seeing friends who travelled many miles to be a part of this historic event.

We hope to develop a core group to start the works of Reckoning in California. Several people expressed interest but I believe in time a group will form. We have an opportunity to partner in a project in Oxnard and a professional fund raiser decided to help us develop. I look forward to watching things unfold over time.

Thank you to everyone who came.

With A Little Help From My Friend

This is my dear friend John Bergin and his “son” Hooch. We have known each other a lot of years (man I am getting old!) and shared ring-side seats to each others trials and triumphs in life. John is on of those great friends in life you can ALWAYS count on, as I did when I needed some assistance picking out wines for the Reckoning event tomorrow night. It was not just about shopping (I could have done that myself), it was about engaging in actions of true friendship.

People like John are tangible expressions of “Love thy neighbour.” Without action, the aforementioned phrase is meaningless; just words on a page. Love is a verb, not a word solely to elicit fuzzy feelings. Love implies, patience, sacrifice, courage, care, joy and endurance to name a few; it is not a one-time decision - it must be tended to regularly and often.

I hope that you, my readers, also have dear neighbours who love you well and are loved well by you. It is this kind of love that makes living worthwhile. Live Well!

Synergy

Some times in life you are blessed to meet someone with whom you just click! Instantly the energy of the connection moves you a little closer to greatness. Today I had the fortune of meeting two such people and we formed an instant kinship!

Rich Brimer (on the Left) introduced the Reckoning Core team to Café On A (http://cafeona.org). Armando Vazquez and Debbie De Vries (left to right in picture) take commitment and creativity to the next level. They are the co-founders and overseers of an innovative community centre. Café On A is a hub for activism, empowerment and generosity towards the marginalised and at-risk community in Oxnard.

I have a deep respect for their work, as they create art interventions that address trying issues like incest and racial profiling. They offer workshops to help people voice their experiences and channel their energies towards positive solutions, rather than destructive behaviours or crime.

Well, once we were all in the same room the ideas started to flow on the basis of our mutual understanding that art transforms perspectives and can be a great tool for personal and community transformation. Who knows in the near future there might be wonderful collaboration.

Thanks Rich for the connection!

Reckoning Launch in Amsterdam

I am writing this from the plane, so Saturday seems further way than yesterday while in transit.

Our dear friend Harmine offered her home for our kick-off celebration and information meeting. The location was perfect, everyone felt warm and welcome. About 15 people came, many whom were met earlier that week. The conversation was charged as old and new friends wrestled with the concepts of Reckoning. Our presentation was a sampling of Reckoning’s Educational Method, which was tested and well received.

The evening was a hallmark for future gatherings and sparks of a budding community.

What Makes A Real Leader?

Gandhi, Clinton, Mason, Malcolm X, Hitler, Obama, Mandela, Bush, King Jr., and Bin Laden; they all had power because they said something that made people want to follow them – but were they truly leaders…how would you define a true leader?

In Reckoning’s quest to inspire and foster leadership,we have been exploring, educating, examining and executing the dynamics influence. At our core we desire to be transformative in our leadership – meaning incorporating holistic change in others and ourselves. In the books we have read (and there have been many Burns, Hagberg, Autry, Block McIntosh & Rima to name a few off the top of my head) they all keep circling around two main core principles: integrity and morals.

If these are the two harbingers of true leadership then not everyone who leads can be defined as a leader in the purest sense of the word. Have we become too fast and limiting as we label people in terms of leadership? If people follow you is that enough to be a real leader or can someone actually lead from behind? Do you need a position and title or can authority at times undermine the process? These are some of the things we wrestle with daily. If we chose to use integrity and morals as our anchors then a glance at the names above would cause an immediate divide. In James Mac Gregor Burns’ “Transforming Leadership,” he categorizes leaders as either transactional or transformational. Transactional leaders are bound to those they lead by an exchange of some valued entity (usually tangible – ex. I will give you lower taxes if you give me your vote) where as transformative types are closely involved with those they lead centered around a purpose that encourages the elevation of mankind by fostering higher levels of (yes you guessed it) morality and integrity. Transparency and mutual empowerment definitely separates the men from the boys. Idi Amin, Stalin and the like would quickly fall away even though they wielded power.

So if transformational leadership is the destination, then how point out leaders would shift things dramatically. Might we see people at the helm we never imagined? Wouldn’t have less to do with power, prestige or status. Portraying perfection would be ridiculous because every one on this planet can improve on something no matter who or where you happen to be. Being the CEO of a company may mean that you are a great manager but a questionable leader. We might recognize the janitor, who gives his time and energy to know and encourage the students, as the most pivotal and real guide at a prep school. True inspiration does not wait for the paycheck or title to lead, it just does.

Can you imagine what accountable, tireless, holistic, self-less, servant driven leadership might compel people towards? Can you imagine how it might shift the paradigms of people, communities or nations? You do not have to try hard to remember how one or two people have turned the world upside down in this fashion leading to an overwhelming and at times unexpected leap in consciousness. I do not know about you, but I am putting my bets on the dark horse; I believe in the end they will pay out, even if it means they lose everything to succeed.

Look Who's on Board

We have news to share about Reckonings progress…we have our board chairman, Derek Webster. We met him earlier this year at a conference where he truly encouraged the Reckoning team. He fully believes and backs what reckoning is seeking to create.

After he decided to join our merry band presented us with an eloquent treatise on why he joined Reckoning. It really resonated with who we are and in some ways added clarification. Here is an example of its goodness…

“Reckoning is an excuse. It is an excuse to bring others together in a way that both blesses them, and helps them engage in a dialogue with Christians. Reckoning seizes the opportunity to influence, while positioning itself relationally for impact.”

I do not think I could have said it better myself. We are really excited to have him on our team. Derek is an international consultant, writer and all around great guy with many achievements and letters behind his name. We are so happy that he has decided to be an integral part of shaping and influencing Reckoning.

Practice Makes Perfect

Yesterday I had the opportunity to teach the Snow kids on friendship using the learning task methods of Jane Vella. Reckoning will incorporate this style of teaching into our workshops and art interventions this fall so it was mutually beneficial to have this opportunity – the kids got to learn about something they wanted to know about and I also had the opportunity to learn and practice.

Being the first to teach of the Reckoning Clan during the kids summer break, I knew it would be a challenge to engage the kids who I am sure were thinking of a million things they would rather be doing – like sleeping or being outside on the first sunny day in weeks – so it was a rocky start. As we mover through the exercises, the kids became more engaged and lights started to go on as the information started to connect with their personal lives. I have to say it was a lot of fun to watch that happen and I am looking forward to teaching part two.

The kids will also have classes in cooking, sewing, clothes redesign, tie-dying, which will be taught by Ali and Shawna. I will also teach a class on finding God in unusual places. Hopefully this will allow the kids to have an interesting and fulfilling summer and the Reckoning girls will have the opportunity to hone their skills in preparation for the fall.

Bos en Lommer Festival (22 June continued)

This is Ali and David (he is the one who connected us with the New West Directors)
at our booth

We also had a canvas for people to paint their own expressions.

This is what the canvas looked like after the first hour


Hard at work painting


We taught the kids about Artist's Trading Cards (see previous blog) so
that the kids could trade with each other.



Here I am working with the kids making ATCs.


Showing her handy work.

What A Day

You ever have one of those mornings that you wish you could stay in bed all day but can’t because you are expected somewhere and it is too late to cancel?

That is how this morning started for me. I was sick and spent most of the previous afternoon in bed trying to stave of whatever bug that was trying to keep me down. When I tried to open my puffy eyes I could feel that my head was on the verge of imploding under the sinus pressure. But I had to get up it was Reckoning’s first event today in Bos en Lommer!

We got the kids ready and dressed and out the door 10 minutes after we were suppose to leave and the throbbing in my head seemed to quicken as my pace did through out the day. We made out way to the Bos en Lommerplein and I jumped out of the car to track down anyone who could let us know where we our booth would be located. It took 7 degrees of separation before I found someone I recognized and could take me to the one person who had the lay of the land and pointed us in the right direction. At this point I was trying to convince myself that it would be worth staying after the set up instead of returning to the comfort and warmth of bed.

It has been my experience though on days like these, when you have nothing to give beyond your presence and you are not really sure you even want to offer that much, that wonderful things happen. Things you never imagined or thought to ask for; today was no different.

It was miraculous that we were asked to be in this festival in the first place. Through the sports and culture director of Bos en Lommer, we were unexpectedly introduced to the New West Regional Directors of Cultural Arts and Education. These two women were so impressed with our off the cuff presentation of Reckoning that they provided a booth for Reckoning to participate in the upcoming Festival in Bos en Lommer. They wanted to help us initiate relationships with the community we desired to work in. For this reason I got up and went and stayed.

But in reality I got more than I expected by being there. We had so many kids show up and watching them express their creativity was well worth it! There are so many stories but I will share my favorite of the day. At one point I think we had about 15 kids making Artist’s Trading Cards and about 7 kids painting at the canvas, three little boys came up to the art supplies and each grabbed what they could and ran off in separate directions but met behind shed on the other side of the road. I am sure that they assumed Ali and I were too busy to see them but I caught the whole thing. So I left the kids and walked around to the side of the building and held out my hands. It was amazing how quickly the kids started making excuses in English. I took the items said thank you and walked away. I told them they could come back and participate if they wanted to. A few hours later when we were cleaning up I saw the boy who was the ring leader standing off to the corner. I grabbed a set of coloring pencils and walked over to him. He immediately started saying, “ I did not take anything else, I swear!”

I stopped him and said, “I know, now that we are finished I want you to have them – here’s two more for your friends.”

He was really confused; he did not know whether to be sad or happy. “I told you, I did not take more, why are you giving me this? I took from you, I don’t deserve this.”

“Maybe not, but I want to give them to you anyways.” So these are for you, I hope you can use them.”

“Thank you …I am sorry…thank you,” he mumbled with his head held down.

I reached down and touched his shoulder and I waited for him to look up and then I said, “You’re welcome, I hope I see you when I come back in October, bring your friends.”

He put his head down then walked away. When he crossed the street I saw him look back and flash me a big smile.

I could not think of a better way to express grace. When you deserve to be punished for your action but instead you are given what you do not deserve. I hope that is the experience that he left with. I also experienced it myself in that I was feeling horrible and did not want to be there, but having that moment made me realize that I also received more than I gave or deserved.

4 Days

This weekend Embellish, one of Reckoning’s companies, participated in the Atelier Celebration in Amsterdam. Atelier is the Open Studios Tour in Amsterdam's Jordaan Area which started in 1988 as a small-scale initiative of fifteen artists working in this picturesque old neighborhood, it has, over the years, grown into a phenomenon that draws many visitors and has become internationally known.

The Open Studios attract thousands of visitors to the Jordaan’s artist community. This year there is art in abundance - to see, to buy, and to discuss with the artist. It is an ideal way for galleries to scout for new talent. Ali was able to make some major contacts for Embellish and Reckoning and it gave us a chance to meet new neighbors in the Jordaan.

Yesterday we participated in the Serve the City Amsterdam’s kid’s party in Bos en Lommer. Bos en Lommer is a section of Amsterdam with over 30,000 residents living in 2.71 km area (about 1.6 miles) representing over 178 cultural backgrounds. Many of the recent residents are new immigrants who are separate from much of Dutch culture. They are often marginalized socially, culturally and economically in their adopted country and the children are trying to cope within this reality without the necessary skills to navigate through such obstacles.I had fun playing with the kids, serving water to parents and making pannenkoeken, a tasty dessert, for the children.

There was one 18-month-old girl in particular I noticed when I first arrived. She was of Middle Eastern descent and at the park with her grand parents and she never smiled, not once, while she was walking around the playground. Her distraught grandparents tried to get her to play on the swings, slides and seesaw, but she wandered around resisting everyone and everything. Then the face-painting area set up and she was one of the first children to participate. She sat in complete stoicism as the girls touched her face and began to paint. What broke the dam was when she looked in the mirror and saw her little face a smile finally erupted and she giggled and clapped her hands! It was like watching a new child emerge from with in her. For the rest of the afternoon she was running and playing and engaging with others. It warmed my heart to see how something so simple and creative could have such a profound change in a child.

By using art as a platform to facilitate transformation, Reckoning hopes to address some of the essential issues, which shape a child’s personal identity and their place in the world.

Today we are headed to Bos en Lommer for meetings with Podium Mozaïek to discuss a proposal to hold a Reckoning Event and offer workshops in the Bos en Lommer area. We have such a desire to connect and become part of this community and we believe that there are incredible opportunities that lie ahead for everyone involved, but most especially the children of Bos en Lommer.

South Africa to Amsterdam

If you did not get a chance to see this or you were wondering what I have been up to here you go!

New Familiar Faces!

Today, I drove up to Sacramento, CA to attend the Mid-Town Second Saturday Art Walk - more specifically to see my new friends at the VoxSac Café (www.voxsac.com). Even though I have only known them a few months, I feel very much at home when I am with this group of rebels in sheep’s clothing. It is always great to meet people who are about pushing the envelope of what is while holding on to what is valuable in the now.

Eric, Heath, Sue, Jill, Cindy and their families are pioneering in the scope of what we hope to achieve with Reckoning in Amsterdam. We have a special kinship of the battle ready and weary that we hope will continue to grow and mature as we move forward into our relative unknowns. It is great knowing that you are not the only crazy people in the world willing to bank on the impossible – it brings us to our knees together so that we support each other in a myriad of ways. They are like old friends who just get what you are about and where you would like to go with out the necessity of words or exorbitant explanations.

Cindy's Arm, Eric and Heath